7. Kurds

The violation of human rights continues in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey which affects Kurdish population in these countries. The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Turkey for this in a number of cases. The UN should initiate and support policies for the implementation of peace and democracy in the interest of the oppressed people of the world rather than those of the states and superpowers. This particularly apply to the situation of the Kurds in Iraq and Turkey.

The Kurds call upon the United Nation to take serious action in support of their campaign for peace and democracy and self-determination in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. The Kurdish nation in these countries is not only denied its right to self-determination but basic human rights are also openly violated. In Syria the existence of the Kurds is denied and in Iran and Turkey they cannot even study in their own language.

The following demands for their basic human rights would obviously pave the way for the Kurds to achieve their legitimate right to self-determination.

We call on the NGOs and the UN to support the struggle :

1 - to recognise the right of the Kurds to their language, culture and national identity (equal citizenship) in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey

2 - (a) to release all Kurdish political prisoners in those countries specifically the students who were detained and arrested in Turkey in relation to their campaigns to study in their mother tongue. (b) to end the disciplinary proceedings against these students and allow them to return to their studies. They should also be cleared of all charges against them.

3 - to repeal the constitutional and other laws that ban the Kurdish language and criminalise education in one’s mother tongue and promotion of culture in Turkey

4 - to bring about legislation and provide facilities to regulate education in Kurdish as a mother tongue in Iran, Syria and Turkey.

5 - to bring about equal economic, social and political rights for Kurdish women, whose representatives be involved in all international and national negotiations and meetings on the destiny of the Kurds.

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